Serial bus powered vape capsule

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is a capsule that can be attached to a vaporizer and that stores consumable material for consumption by a user. The capsule can include a reservoir that is heated via a heating device and is attached to the vaporizer by a serial bus connection such as a universal serial bus (“USB”) connection. The USB connection can facilitate electric and mechanical coupling with the vaporizer, and further can provide a means to transfer usage data from the reservoir to the vaporizer.

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates generally to smoking capsules, and more specifically to a smoking capsule powered via a serial bus.

BACKGROUND

Conventional smoking devices, such as cigarettes and cigars, burn tobacco to create tobacco smoke. The tobacco smoke is consumed by the user of the smoking device to ingest the nicotine from the tobacco through the lungs of the user.

Various attempts have been made to provide alternatives to these conventional smoking devices. Some alternatives release compounds from material, such as tobacco or non-tobacco products, without burning the material. For example, a vaporizer is an example of a device that allows users to consume compounds by heating, but not burning, the material. These vaporizers use convective or conductive heat transfer to heat a product only to the point of releasing their active chemical components. For example, cannabis vaporizers use conductive or convective heating to vaporize the cannabinoids in the product and allow inhalation by a user to ingest the cannabinoids through the lungs. This process is generally considered healthier than ingesting smoke, which includes known carcinogens and provides the negative externality of a potent smell.

In some examples, the consumable material of a vaporizer may be stored in a capsule (typically referred to as a “cartridge” or “tank”) that includes a heating device. The heating device may heat the material within the capsule, and the compounds may be released through an opening of the capsule. The material may be in a liquid or non-liquid state.

As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, prior art capsules 300 a-e include a reservoir 305 a-e for holding material, a heating device 310 a-e for heating that material, and a mouthpiece 315 a-e for the user to inhale from. The capsule 300 a-e can couple to a vaporizer or e-cigarette via threads 320 a-e. In a preferred embodiment, the threads are 510 threads.

Vaporizer capsules have conventionally been used as storage containers with electrical connections to power sources, but with little mechanical or electric innovation. There are opportunities to improve user experience by implementing vaporizer capsules in a more functional manner. There are also opportunities to capture data surrounding the use of the vaporizer capsule if the electronic means for doing so are easily adaptable into the vaporizer capsule device.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The presently disclosed embodiments include a capsule that can be attached to a vaporizer and that stores consumable material for consumption by a user. The capsule can include a reservoir that is heated via a heating device and is attached to the vaporizer by a serial bus connection such as a universal serial bus (“USB”) connection. The USB connection can facilitate electric and mechanical coupling with the vaporizer, and further can provide a means to transfer usage data from the reservoir to the vaporizer.

In particular, the presently disclosed embodiments include a smoking capsule including a reservoir for storing material, a heating element for heating the material stored in the reservoir, a serial bus connection for delivering power to the heating element, and an output tip for outputting a product of the material from the reservoir to a user. The presently disclosed embodiments also include a method for generating a product via a smoking capsule, including storing material in a reservoir of the smoking capsule, generating the product based on heating the material via a heating element of the smoking capsule, the heating element receiving power via a serial bus connection integrated with the smoking capsule, and releasing the product from the smoking capsule via an output tip integrated with the smoking capsule.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that features of the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a particular description may be had by reference to aspects, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only certain aspects of this disclosure and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the description may admit to other equally effective aspects. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate examples of capsules with USB connections, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process performed, for example, by a capsule with a USB connection, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate examples of prior art threaded capsules.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various aspects of the disclosure are described more fully below with reference to the accompanying drawings. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to any specific structure or function presented throughout this disclosure. Rather, these aspects are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Based on the teachings, one skilled in the art should appreciate that the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover any aspect of the disclosure, whether implemented independently of or combined with any other aspect of the disclosure. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth. In addition, the scope of the disclosure is intended to cover such an apparatus or method, which is practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than the various aspects of the disclosure set forth. It should be understood that any aspect of the disclosure disclosed may be embodied by one or more elements of a claim.

Several aspects of a heating capsule will now be presented with reference to various apparatuses and techniques. These apparatuses and techniques will be described in the following detailed description and illustrated in the accompanying drawings by various blocks, modules, components, circuits, steps, processes, algorithms, and/or the like (collectively referred to as “elements”). These elements may be implemented using hardware, software, or combinations thereof. Whether such elements are implemented as hardware or software depends upon the particular application and design constraints imposed on the overall system.

The presently disclosed embodiments include a capsule that can be attached to a vaporizer and that stores consumable material for consumption by a user. The capsule can include a reservoir that is heated via a heating device and is attached to the vaporizer by a serial bus connection such as a universal serial bus (“USB”) connection. The USB connection can facilitate electric and mechanical coupling with the vaporizer, and further can provide a means to transfer usage data from the reservoir to the vaporizer.

For ease of explanation, a device that uses a capsule that includes a heating device will be referred to as an e-cigarette, vaporizer, or dab pen interchangeably. In most conventional e-cigarettes, the capsule is attached to a body of the e-cigarette via a threaded screw design. The threading may be universal such that different capsules, regardless of the type of use or function, may be used with different bodies. In most cases, the threaded capsule may be referred to as a 510 threaded capsule. The body may include a battery for delivering power to the capsule. As such, when the capsule is secured to the body via the threading, a circuit is complete to deliver power from the battery to the capsule.

FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 1C illustrate a capsule 100 according to at least some embodiments of the present application. As shown, the capsule 100 can store material for vaporizer consumption within a reservoir 105. The material can then be heated via a heating device 110 and inhaled through a mouthpiece 115. As opposed to the threaded arrangement of conventional capsules, the capsules 100 of the presently disclosed embodiments attach to a vaporizer or e-cigarette via a USB connection 120. In some examples, the heating device 110 of the capsule 100 may be activated based on the power (e.g., electricity) provided via the battery of the vaporizer.

In some examples, the USB connection 120 may draw power from a vaporizer that includes a female USB connection. The body of the vaporizer may also include a switch (e.g., button) for activating and deactivating the power to the heating device. The battery may be charged via one or more charging mechanisms, such as USB charging. Additionally, or alternatively, the capsule 100 may directly draw power from a USB power source, such as a USB wall power source that charges electronic devices, a phone, a power bank, and/or another type of USB power source.

Although the conventional threaded design provides universal compatibility between capsules and bodies, conventional e-cigarettes are still limited to charging the vaporizer itself in order to use the capsule 300. Additionally, if the vaporizer is damaged, a user may be unable to use the capsule 300 until a new vaporizer is acquired or the old one repaired. As such, the vaporizer is a type of “middle man” between the heating device 310 in the capsule 300 and the power that is needed to activate the heating device 310. It may be desirable to reduce a need for a body while providing universal compatibility for capsules.

Aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to the types of capsules 100 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, and other types of capsule bodies are contemplated. That is, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to a specific form or function of a capsule. Still, each capsule includes a USB connection 120 for delivering power to the capsule 100 (e.g., one or more elements of the capsule 100).

The USB connection 120 is not limited to providing power. Additionally, or alternatively, the USB connection 120 may be used to send and receive data. In some examples, a circuit, chip, and/or memory associated with the capsule 100 (individually or collectively, a circuit 125) may send and receive data via the USB connection. For example, the data may indicate a temperature of the capsule 100, amount of use, material level, number of times a user inhaled on a particular day, and/or other information.

In some embodiments, the data transferred can include a terpene profile of the material. For example, the material can be a cannabis material with a particular terpene profile. Here, the capsule 100 can include an identification within its circuit 125 that specifies the precise terpenes present in a single use capsule 100. Alternatively, the capsule 100 can include a sensor 130 that senses and analyzes the material to determine the terpene profile therein. Still alternatively, the user can enter input into the vaporizer or capsule 100 to identify the material and the accompanying terpene profile. Any other manner of determining the terpene profile can be implemented without departing from the spirit and scope of the presently disclosed embodiments.

The term “capsule” herein is intended to include any housing or container that stores a consumable substance that is consumed by a user of a vaporizer or other smoking device. The capsule can include a cartridge or tank, for example, as those terms are used in the cannabis and nicotine industries, respectively.

The term “consume” and its variants is not intended to be limited to any one function. For example, the presently disclosed embodiments could be implemented in a vaporizer that allows users to consume product by heating the product to vaporizer its active compounds. “Consume” could also mean consumption through combusting or smoking a product, or any other manner of consumption.

In some implementations, the capsule 100 may be ventilated to prevent overheating of the USB connection 120. The ventilation can avoid accessing the reservoir 105, such that product (e.g., smoke) from heating the material in the reservoir 105 does not become airborne via the ventilation. As one example, the USB connection 120 itself can include apertures to permit ventilation.

The USB connection 120 is not limited to a specific USB standard. In some examples, a USB type C connection is used. Future USB types and previous USB types (e.g., USB type B, USB mini, or USB micro) may also be used. As shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, a male USB is used as the USB connection. In some aspects, the capsule 100 may include a female USB connection as the USB connection 120, and a body or power supply may be a male USB connection. Further, any other form of connection can also be used that transmits power and data, or data alone, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process 200 performed, for example, by a USB capsule 100, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The example process 200 is an example of heating material in a USB capsule, such as the USB capsule 100 shown in FIGS. 1A-1C, in accordance with various aspects of the present disclosure. The process 200 begins at block 202 by storing material in a reservoir 105 of the capsule 100. At block 204, the process 200 generates the product based on heating the material via a heating device 110 of the capsule 100. The heating device 110 may receive power via a serial bus connection integrated with the capsule 100. At block 306, the process 200 releases the product from the capsule 100 via an output tip integrated with the capsule 100.

Various aspects of the present disclosure prevent a novel power delivery system for a capsule 100. As discussed, the conventional threaded (e.g., 510 threaded) screw design relies on a base (e.g., e-cigarette base) for power. Aspects of the present disclosure power a capsule via a serial bus connection, such as a USB connection, that is associated with a universal standard for electronics. Thus, any serial bus (e.g., USB) device, such as a phone, power bank, or other device, may act as a battery for the capsules. The conventional threaded design cannot rely on any type of device with a serial bus connection and is limited to e-cigarette bases with a threaded design.

As discussed, aspects of the present disclosure are not limited to a specific form or function of a capsule. In some examples, the serial bus connection may be used with any type of capsule. Still, various novel capsule designs are considered.

Additionally, the serial bus connection is not limited to delivering power to the capsule. Additionally, or alternatively, the serial bus connection may transfer data between a battery chip and the capsule.

Furthermore, an airflow system may be integrated into the capsule above the serial bus connection.

The foregoing disclosure provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the aspects to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations may be made in light of the above disclosure or may be acquired from practice of the aspects.

As used, the term “component” is intended to be broadly construed as hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. As used, a processor is implemented in hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software.

Some aspects are described in connection with thresholds. As used, satisfying a threshold may, depending on the context, refer to a value being greater than the threshold, greater than or equal to the threshold, less than the threshold, less than or equal to the threshold, equal to the threshold, not equal to the threshold, and/or the like.

It will be apparent that systems and/or methods described may be implemented in different forms of hardware, firmware, and/or a combination of hardware and software. The actual specialized control hardware or software code used to implement these systems and/or methods is not limiting of the aspects. Thus, the operation and behavior of the systems and/or methods were described without reference to specific software code—it being understood that software and hardware can be designed to implement the systems and/or methods based, at least in part, on the description.

Even though particular combinations of features are recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification, these combinations are not intended to limit the disclosure of various aspects. In fact, many of these features may be combined in ways not specifically recited in the claims and/or disclosed in the specification. Although each dependent claim listed below may directly depend on only one claim, the disclosure of various aspects includes each dependent claim in combination with every other claim in the claim set. A phrase referring to “at least one of” a list of items refers to any combination of those items, including single members. As an example, “at least one of: a, b, or c” is intended to cover a, b, c, a-b, a-c, b-c, and a-b-c, as well as any combination with multiples of the same element (e.g., a-a, a-a-a, a-a-b, a-a-c, a-b-b, a-c-c, b-b, b-b-b, b-b-c, c-c, and c-c-c or any other ordering of a, b, and c).

No element, act, or instruction used should be construed as critical or essential unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used, the articles “a” and “an” are intended to include one or more items, and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Furthermore, as used, the terms “set” and “group” are intended to include one or more items (e.g., related items, unrelated items, a combination of related and unrelated items, and/or the like), and may be used interchangeably with “one or more.” Where only one item is intended, the phrase “only one” or similar language is used. Also, as used, the terms “has,” “have,” “having,” and/or the like are intended to be open-ended terms. Further, the phrase “based on” is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A capsule, comprising: a reservoir for storing material; a heating element for heating the material stored inside or outside the reservoir; a serial bus connection for delivering power to the heating element; and an output tip for outputting a product of the material from the reservoir to a user.
 2. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the product is generated based on heating the material via the heating element.
 3. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the serial bus connection is a USB connection.
 4. The capsule of claim 3, wherein the USB connection is a USB type C connection.
 5. The capsule of claim 1, wherein: the capsule attaches to a e-cigarette body via the serial bus connection; and the e-cigarette body supplies power to the capsule via a battery.
 6. The capsule of claim 1, wherein the capsule connects to a power supply unit via the serial bus connection.
 7. The capsule of claim 1, further comprising one or more of a memory, a processor, or circuitry for exchanging data with a power supply unit via the serial bus connection.
 8. The capsule of claim 1, further comprising ventilation ducts adjacent to the serial bus connection.
 9. The capsule of claim 1, wherein: one end of the reservoir is sealed; and the one end is adjacent to the serial bus connection.
 10. A method for generating a product via a capsule, comprising: storing material in a reservoir of the capsule; generating the product based on heating the material via a heating element of the capsule, the heating element receiving power via a serial bus connection integrated with the capsule; and releasing the product from the capsule via an output tip integrated with the capsule.
 11. The method of claim 10, wherein the output tip is a mouthpiece.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the material is liquid.
 13. The method of claim 10, wherein the product is a smoke or vapor byproduct of the material.
 14. The method of claim 10, wherein the material comprises plant matter.
 15. The method of claim 10, wherein the serial bus connection is a USB connection.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the USB connection is a USB type C connection.
 17. The method of claim 10, further comprising attaching the capsule to a e-cigarette body via the serial bus connection, wherein the e-cigarette body supplies power to the capsule via a battery.
 18. The method of claim 10, further comprising connecting the smoking capsule to a power supply unit via the serial bus connection.
 19. The method of claim 10, further comprising exchanging data with a power supply unit via the serial bus connection, wherein the data is processed or stored via one or more of a memory, a processor, or circuitry integrated with the smoking capsule.
 20. The method of claim 10, further comprising ventilating the serial bus connection. 